‘Godspeed’ gets overhaul at Broad Creek marina
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| Zimmerman Marine Inc. in Deltaville is getting “Godspeed” ready for another sailing season. Above, Jim Yoxall sands wooden cleats on the replica of the 65-foot ship that brought settlers to Jamestown 400 years ago. (Photo by Tom Chillemi) |
“Godspeed,” a replica of the ship that brought Jamestown settlers to the new world in 1607, has been hauled at Zimmerman Marine Inc. on Broad Creek in Deltaville.
Godspeed, whose home port is Jamestown Settlement, will be getting routine maintenance during the next month, said ship Captain Eric Speth. Maintenance will include pulling its three masts and bowsprit so they can be repaired and refinished.
This is the second Godspeed. It was built in 2006 based on extensive research, including original records, Speth explained.
Godspeed’s hull is 65 feet long at the waterline and 17.5 feet wide. The ship weighs 80 tons.
Steve Zimmerman of Mathews said his boatyard worked on the previous version of Godspeed, as well as “Discovery,” another Jamestown ship.
This is the first time the new Godspeed has been hauled by Zimmerman Marine.
Zimmerman explained that this job was made possible by the recent dredging of Broad Creek by the Army Corps of Engineers, which was funded with federal stimulus money. “Godspeed draws over 7 feet, and we would not have been able to bid on this job without the improved water depth,” he said.
Zimmerman said this project will employ at least five people full time for over a month. Among them is lead carpenter Mitch Krom of Middlesex.
Krom explained how the ship’s main mast, which was shaped from a large tree, twisted as it dried and that made the top of the mast askew.
To make the mast straight, Krom will realign the tenon at the mast bottom. The mast’s tenon fits into a slot called a “mortis” to hold the huge mast in place.
On Tuesday Krom was trimming the sides of the tenon. He will then build up part of the tenon. In effect, he is moving the tenon a few degrees so the mast will be straight.
